The Gombe state government is to secure N5 billion loan from the Family Housing fund for the construction of 1,000 affordable housing units in the state.
Mr Julius Ishaya, Commissioner for Information and Culture, said this at a news briefing shortly after the State Executive Council meeting in Gombe on Wednesday.
“The loan is to be secured from the Family Housing Fund, famous for giving credit facility to States across the country to address their housing deficit,” he explained.
He said Council equally deliberated on land administration and master plan of Gombe metropolis, where it noted the planned integration of customary land title owners into government layouts.
He said the integration would enable the administration to provide social amenities to the people without recourse to the needless payment of compensation.
He also said that the Council had received an assessment report on the Billiri crisis, detailing the number of property destroyed and value attached.
In February, crisis erupted in Billiri, one week after the death of Abdu Maisheru, the paramount ruler of Tangale, on who would succeed him.
It was over claims by some subjects that the state government did not want to announce the candidate selected by the kingmakers.
The commissioner said that findings by the assessment committee on the crisis indicated that 41 houses were affected which were valued at N94.6 million.
The Commissioner said that 401 business premises were affected, out of which 335 shops were owned by individuals, while 66 belonged to the Billiri local government area, all valued at N385.15 million.
He added that 33 worship centres were either burnt down or vandalised and were valued at N33.13 million.
According to him, other areas affected included motor vehicles, motorcycles, orchards, and animals, which were either destroyed, missing, or stolen and valued at N31.48 million.
He added that the overall total of property destroyed as valued by the committee was N542.36 million.
He said in lieu of the assessment, the State Executive Council had approved the payment of compensation to individuals who lost loved ones and property.
He said that a committee was set up to draw out modalities for the assistance.
